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Travel and Tourism

Travel and Tourism

Associate in Applied Science Degree (FP)

Associate in Applied Science Degree in Travel and Tourism is a 66-credit-hour program that prepares students for a variety of entry-level positions and advancement opportunities in the travel and tourism industry.

Travel and Tourism is considered by many experts to be the world’s largest generator of wealth and jobs in the global economy, while consistently bringing people together in peace and understanding from all corners of the earth.

The Travel and Tourism program at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park prepares students with the knowledge, technical skills and work habits required for a variety of entry-level positions in the travel and tourism industry with career ladder advancement opportunities.

Graduates are qualified for positions with retail travel agencies, wholesale tour operators, Internet travel entities, group incentive businesses, corporate travel firms, meeting and event planning organizations, airlines, cruise lines, car rental services, hotels, destination management companies, and convention and visitors' bureaus.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS
The Travel and Tourism Foundations program was created to offer students rigorous entry-level training similar to that offered by proprietary travel schools and academies, only at a more affordable cost. It is designed to provide students with enough knowledge to start out in the field; however, it is not a substitute for the extended course work outlined in the remainder of the AAS degree.

Travel and Tourism Foundations I covers the terms, definitions, codes, industry sectors and geography mapping that provides the foundational knowledge for continued study. Travel and Tourism Foundations II covers the computer automation that is vital to performing the everyday tasks in many travel and tourism positions. Students will work on Sabre, a live Global Distribution System (GDS) and the Internet to research travel information and secure reservations from various travel suppliers.

The Associate in Applied Science Degree in Travel and Tourism offers a broad general education in composition, communications, science, mathematics, social science and accounting along with courses in geography, hospitality management, hospitality law, hospitality sales and marketing, airline reservations, cruise and tour arrangements, convention and meeting planning, and international travel.

Persons interested in travel and tourism should possess the following qualities:

  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills
  • Proficient computer navigation abilities and keyboarding competence
  • The ability to work with computer automation and other reference materials, while providing accurate information and assistance to the traveling public
  • Positive, friendly, customer-oriented attitude when functioning in an active work environment